Once again I prayed when I heard about the act of violence Tuesday along the Hudson River in New York City, “God let it not be a Muslim.”

I prayed the same way when I first heard of the massacre of the concert-goers in Las Vegas. And I also pleaded in a like manner with God upon learning the horrible act of killing at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando.

Sayfullo Saipov(Photo: Provided)

This is, unfortunately, a normal prayer routine for Muslim-Americans every time they hear news reports of lone wolves like Stephen Paddock and Omar Mateen engaged in mass murder.

As an American, my immediate reaction should be of horror, sorrow and prayer for the victims of a senseless tragedy. Instead, my first thought as a Muslim is the fear of backlash. Muslim-Americans hold their breath in shock when they hear of such tragic slaughter. I regret later not thinking first of the victims and their loved ones.

What faith the killer belongs to, or what a person’s ethnic background is shouldn’t be the first thing on anyone’s mind when such an incident occurs. All Americans must stand united in the face of violence against innocent victims. But Muslim-Americans are wary of “guilt by association.”

I can’t help but first consider the safety of my hijab-wearing wife and my daughter. I advise them, “Be careful today in going about your business.” That’s an unfortunate reaction. But there have been anti-Muslim incidents after a person with a Muslim name is the perpetrator.

President Donald Trump correctly called the Las Vegas shooter a “sick” and “demented man.” And our President again echoed the same thoughts by calling the murderous spree committed by that truck driver in Manhattan “another attack by a very sick and deranged person.”

Only a mentally disturbed or cruel person would savagely and intentionally plow into innocent bystanders with a vehicle, indiscriminately killing and maiming them in the rampage. Tuesday's attack extinguished people’s dreams and hurt their families by taking loved ones away forever.

My wife and I had just returned from a Halloween party Tuesday night. We were getting text messages about fun our kids were having — receiving pictures from them dressed in spooky costumes. We received images of grandkids showing off the treats they collected — their parents dressed in colorful outfits, some scary and others sweet looking. Then we heard the awful news — a devilish act committed by a man in the sacred name of God.

It was good to hear New York City didn’t cancel its Halloween parade. It would go on as planned despite the attack, according to the organizers of the annual event. However, the sadness will linger for a long time.

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly said, "We must not allow ISIS to return, or enter, our country after defeating them in the Middle East and elsewhere. Enough!"

The goal of such criminals is to create fear and suspicion. The scourge of terrorism must not be allowed to divide Americans, nor should it stop us from living our normal lives.

Victor Ghalib Begg is a Muslim community activist and interfaith leader who lives in Fort Pierce.